> Over here- (Wenatchee Natl Forest) when they originally harvested timber, they
> usually did not take "all" the trees. Some were left behind. What has followed
> is a second growth forest intermixed with old-growth. This has made a forest
> with old-growth "character". Multi-layered canopy, snags, etc- the components
> spotted owls are supposed to like. Of course the local timber industry now
> promulgates thru the media that spottys live in second growth just fine. They
> fail to point out the specific requirements of the owl and how our forests
> happen to have those components. We need to have a different term for these
> types of forests other than second growth. Politicians, the timber industry,
> etc. are just trying to simplify terms for a complex ecosystem to push their
> resource extraction agenda.
>
> ********************************************************************************
> Roger Peffer- rpeffer at ctc.edu 509-662-1651 X2017

We do kinda have such a term - "even-aged stands". Such stands don't
achieve the structural variety of an old-growth forest (most of which
are probably "second growth" anyway as they've been here thousands of
years!), unless left alone a long time. Current management practice
is to AVOID the variance in age of trees characteristic of old-growth.

Since you mention Ancient Harvest Techniques on the westside, when
I was in fourth grade here in Oregon we did sort of an Oregon Civics
class - history, state industry, singing "Land of the Empire Builders"
(state anthem), etc. This was in the early 1960s.

We were taught that westside forests were clearcut 'cause Doug Fir
doesn't flourish in the shade, but that eastside forests were selectively
cut because the stands naturally regenerated (simpler language was
used).

I'm not exactly sure when clearcutting became the harvest method of
choice eastside. Early 1970s? I remember, though, being pretty
damned surprised when I first saw them. After being taught so
many years earlier that industry only harvested using the best
methods, and that was clearcutting westside and select logging
eastside...

So much for exposure to propoganda in one's early years!

-Don Baccus-